Key things to know about Chargers’ Week 1 opponent: Raiders

Here are some important things to know about the Raiders ahead of the Week 1 matchup with the Chargers.

The Chargers will open up the 2024 regular season at SoFi Stadium against the Raiders on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 1:05 p.m. PT.

To get you prepped for the Week 1 bout, here are five key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup.

Got the promotion

After the 2023 season, the Raiders removed the interim tag from Antonio Pierce’s title and promoted him to full-time head coach. Pierce served as Las Vegas’ linebackers coach before taking on the interim role after former head coach Josh McDaniels was fired. He led them to a 5-4 record.

The man under center

The Raiders had a quarterback battle during the summer between Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell, and Minshew prevailed. This offseason, Minshew signed a two-year, $25 million contract, marking the fourth team he’s played on. Over five seasons with the Jaguars, Eagles and Colts, Minshew has started 37 games, posting a 15-22 record. He has faced the Chargers twice in his career and is 0-2 against them.

Big fish landed

Former Chargers general manager and current Raiders GM Tom Telesco’s biggest offseason move was acquiring Christian Wilkins. Wilkins, the top defensive tackle on the market, signed to a four-year, $110 million contract. Wilkins is coming off a season in which he amassed career highs in sacks (nine), quarterback pressures (61), and quarterback hits (23). Along with being a prolific interior pass rusher, he’s just as impactful against the run.

Other offseason additions

Telesco’s other moves in the offseason came mainly on the offensive side of the ball, with running back Alexander Mattison, guard Cody Whitehair and rookie tight end Brock Bowers. Center Andre James re-signed to a two-year deal. They will all be key pieces for Luke Getsy, who will enter his first season as Raiders offensive coordinator. Getsy previously served in the same role for the Bears.

Look out for…

Edge rusher Maxx Crosby. Crosby has asserted himself as one of the top defensive players in the league. He finished last season with a career-high 14.5 sacks. Rookie offensive tackle Joe Alt should get a heavy dose of Crosby this game, so it will be interesting to see how he fares.

Will the Chargers-Raiders game be on in your area?

The Los Angeles Chargers are set to take on the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PT.

The Los Angeles Chargers (2-5) are preparing to go to battle against the Las Vegas (4-3) in hopes of finally picking up their first AFC West win since 2018.

Those in the gold area on the TV map, will get the game on FOX, courtesy of 506 Sports.

If you’re in the green area, you will get the matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills.

Those in the red area will see the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Carolina Panthers.

In the orange will be the Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans.

Those in the periwinkle area will see the New York Giants and The Washington Football Team.

Joe Davis and Mark Schlereth will have the call.

The Chargers are currently a point favorites over the Raiders. Sunday’s matchup will begin at 1:05 p.m. PT.

3 key matchups to watch in Chargers vs. Raiders, Week 9

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez breaks down three matchups to hone in on when Los Angeles hosts Las Vegas on Sunday.

The Chargers are set to host the Raiders in Week 9 of the 2020 regular season, as they are eager to finally find themselves back to their winning ways.

With that being said, here are three key matchups that could be the determining factor of Sunday’s contest.

Chargers back seven vs. Raiders wide receivers

A big part of the late defensive meltdowns that have been ongoing lies in the back end of the defense. While the play-calling is one to point fingers at, the unit has been susceptible to leaving the middle of the field open as well as down the sidelines.

Derek Carr is having one of his best seasons yet, and he will look to challenge a defensive back group that no longer has Desmond King, is without Chris Harris Jr. and could be without Casey Hayward (non-injury related reasons).

Michael Davis will have a tough test against the speedy rookie Henry Ruggs, who is averaging 22 yards per reception. Davis has been up and down this season. Ruggs will draw the attention of Rayshawn Jenkins and Nasir Adderley, who both have also produced a mixed bag of results.

Darren Waller is establishing himself as one of the best tight ends in the league and given how the linebackers have been playing in coverage, it could be a recipe for disaster for Los Angeles if they can’t find a way to contain him.

Chargers defensive line vs. Raiders offensive line

Like I mentioned, Carr is having one of his best campaigns yet and the pressure will have to be put on in order to slow him down or else he will have no issue spreading the wealth with his quick release.

Not only that, but Josh Jacobs is coming off of one of his best performances of the season, and Las Vegas will look to utilize him early and often against a defensive line that will likely be without Joey Bosa, who is doubtful with a concussion.

Isaac Rochell, Bosa’s backup, will need to step up. Melvin Ingram and Uchenna Nwosu will have to continue to come up big against the pass and run. Meanwhile, the interior part of the defensive line can’t afford to get pushed back to clear lanes for Jacobs.

Chargers WR Keenan Allen vs. Raiders CB Trayvon Mullen

Justin Herbert has done a fine job of distributing the wealth to the plethora of skill players that he has it hand, but Allen has arguably been his top target up to this point. Allen is top 10 in receptions and is playing his way to be among that tier in receiving yards.

Herbert will look to get the ball to him early and often, considering the Raiders have struggled through the air. Mullen will be the one tasked with limiting the red hot Allen. The second-year cornerback has seven passes defensed this season.

3 key things to know about Chargers’ Week 9 opponent, Raiders

Small preview of the Los Angeles Chargers’ Week 9 opponent.

The Chargers are set to embark on another AFC West battle. This time it’s against the Raiders on Sunday.

Here are three things to know about Los Angeles’ Week 9 opponent:

Unfazed on the road

Rather than traveling south, the Raiders will be making the trip a little bit more from the east now. Las Vegas hasn’t been phased playing away from home, as they are 3-1 on the road this season.

Up and down defense

The Chargers could be in for another big day on offense, as the Raiders have allowed 32.8 points per game and a 99.7 quarterback rating this season. Las Vegas is tied for the fewest takeaways (four) in the NFL and the second-fewest sacks (seven). On the ground, they are allowing 117.1 yards per carry.

Derek Carr is having a great season

Carr is among the list of players who doesn’t get the credit that they deserve. While he hasn’t stacked up among the top quarterbacks, Carr is having a career year in Las Vegas. He is setting career highs in completion percentage, yards per attempts, passer rating, etc. Carr has worked diligently on his mechanics and the results show. This season, he has 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions.

Chargers open as slight favorites over Raiders in Week 9

Vegas sees the Los Angeles Chargers as favorites heading into their Week 9 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Los Angeles Chargers (2-5) are looking to pick up their first divisional win since 2018 after facing another heartbroken loss, this time to the Denver Broncos last Sunday.

Going into this weekend’s contest, the Chargers are favored by a point over the Las Vegas Raiders (4-3) in Week 9 of the 2020 regular season, per BetMGM.

Advantage was on Los Angeles’ side after being up by the score of 24-3, but the ongoing meltdown continued, which then led to the team staring at a scoreboard of 31-30 in Denver’s favor.

Meanwhile, the Raiders picked up their fourth win of the season over the Cleveland Browns which was guided by a dominant defensive outing and running back Joshua Jacobs who ran for 128 yards.

Sunday’s matchup will begin at 2:05 p.m. PT and will be televised on FOX.

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Chargers vs. Raiders inactives

The Los Angeles Chargers and Oakland Raiders released their inactives ahead of the Week 16 matchup.

The Los Angeles Chargers released their inactives ahead of Sunday’s contest against the Oakland Raiders.

Inactive

QB Easton Stick

RB Justin Jackson

S Jaylen Watkins

S Roderic Teamer

OL Spencer Drango

OT Russell Okung

DT Sylvester Williams

Here is a look at the Raiders’ inactives

WR Keelan Doss

LB Ukeme Eligwe

QB Mike Glennon

G Richie Incognito

RB Josh Jacobs

CB Isaiah Johnson

DL Olsen Pierre

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Everything you need to know about Chargers vs. Raiders

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lays out everything you need to know about the matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and Oakland Raiders.

The Los Angeles Chargers and Oakland Raiders are set for an AFC West bout in Week 16 of the regular season.

Here is everything you need to know about the matchup:

Features

Last game at Dignity Health Sports Park (link)
Keys to victory, matchup to watch, prediction (link)
9 Chargers players to watch (link)
Prediction poll (link)
Who are the experts taking? (link)
Raiders players the Chargers must game-plan for (link)
4 key things to know (link)

How to tune in

If you’re in the green, you’ll get the game (link)

Social Media

Like Chargers Wire on Facebook
Follow Chargers Wire on Twitter

Will the Chargers-Raiders game be on in your area?

The Los Angeles Chargers and Oakland Raiders meet on Sunday afternoon.

The Los Angeles Chargers and Oakland Raiders meet on Sunday afternoon in what will be the last game played at Dignity Health Sports Park.

If you’re in the green area on the map, you will get the game, courtesy of 506 Sports.

If you’re in the red, you will watch the Baltimore Ravens take on the Cleveland Browns. Those in the periwinkle will get the Pittsburgh Steelers battle with the New York Jets. If you’re in the tangerine, you will see the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins. Those game will be played at 10:00 a.m. PT.

The only other afternoon game, along with the Chargers and Raiders, will be the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos. If you’re in the gold area, you will get that game on CBS.

Greg Gumbel and Trent Green will get the call. Los Angeles is still listed as 6.5-point favorites over Oakland.

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Chargers vs. Raiders: Keys to victory, matchup to watch, predicition

Gavino Borquez lists the keys to victory, matchup to watch and the prediction for the Los Angeles Chargers and Oakland Raiders.

Chargers’ keys to victory: Offensively, Los Angeles needs to protect quarterback Philip Rivers. When Rivers senses any pressure, he’s susceptible to making mistakes. Even then, he must protect the football. If he is able to get some time to throw or is safe with the rock, he should have feast on a Raiders pass defense that’s 27th in the league. The Chargers also need to keep riding the hot hand with running backs Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler, who have both dominated the Raiders in recent meetings.

Defensively, it all comes down to making the Raiders one-dimensional by pressuring quarterback Derek Carr and making them resort to their run game, which will be without potential Offensive Rookie of the Year Josh Jacobs. Safety Derwin James will be key to containing tight Darren Waller, Carr’s favorite target and serving as an additional blitzer to bring the heat, while Adrian Phillips will be the difference-maker in slowing the ground game and on third-down situations.

Matchup to watch: Chargers OT Trey Pipkins and Sam Tevi vs. Raiders pass rush.

The last time the two teams met, Rivers had no time to breathe in the pocket. As a result, he was sacked five times and hit 10 total times. This week, he will only have one starting tackle in Tevi, while Pipkins gets the start in place of Russell Okung at left tackle. Pipkins showed some flashes in his start against the Chiefs in Week 11. Both players will need to be on their A-game against a hungry rookie tandem of Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrell, who were unstoppable in their first meeting. If Rivers is able to get a little bit of a time in the pocket, he should have success like he has in recent meetings at home against the Raiders. If he doesn’t, it could be a long day for the Chargers offense.

Who wins? The Chargers have dominated the Raiders on their home turf in recent years. With nearly all of their starters who were hurt in their first meeting back, they should benefit from that. Meanwhile, Oakland has struggled, dropping their last four straight games. Even though Los Angeles is out of playoff contention, the Chargers will be motivated to knock the Raiders out of playoff contention, finish their last game played at Dignity Health Sports Park with a win and avoid going winless in the AFC West.

Chargers 24, Raiders 20

Chargers OT Trey Pipkins likely to start vs. Raiders

The Los Angeles Chargers third-round selection will likely get the start at left tackle this weekend against the Oakland Raiders.

It’s more than likely that Chargers rookie Trey Pipkins will be the starting left tackle this Sunday against the Oakland Raiders, per coach Anthony Lynn.

Russell Okung, who has been dealing with a groin injury, was listed as doubtful for this weekend’s AFC West battle.

It was between Pipkins and Trent Scott to start in place of Okung, but it appears that the coaching staff wants to make sure the former Sioux Falls is getting live game action as part of his development.

Pipkins has played in two regular season games this season, one being a start. It hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows for the third-round selection, but he has shown flashes, especially against a stout Kansas City Chiefs defensive front.

The only other player listed on the injury report is running back Justin Jackson, who is questionable with a hamstring injury.

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